ULSTER University's wastefulness in front of the posts was what let them down against DCU, according to their manager Barney McAleenan.
The highly-rated Jordanstown team kicked nine wides over the hour, but they also dropped a further seven efforts short and hit the post twice as they went down to a 1-14 to 0-13 defeat against DCU.
Much in the fashion of last year’s first round defeat by the same opposition, the good start from the Dublin side proved crucial. They were 1-4 to 0-2 ahead after the first quarter and, try as they might, UU could never get any closer than two points.
“We were chasing the game. We should have possibly had more scores in the first-half," McAleenan said.
“They made it very difficult. There were times in the first-half that they had 15 behind the ball. We had to try and work the ball through the hands, but they got a lot of turnovers and then they had space to break into.
“It was a cat-and-mouse game. We got it back to two points, but there was a tough enough free blown on Richie when he flicked it out and they got away and got a killer score.”
Armagh referee Padraig Hughes was at the centre of proceedings as he failed to award a free to Richie Donnelly, which led to DCU’s crucial goal: “Richie had possession of the ball. If a defender did the same thing, it would be a free. Sometimes, referees allow the referees to almost foul," McAleenan added.
“The ball broke away and that was a crucial score right through the whole match."
With his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, victorious DCU manager Niall Moyna said his side will turn up for Saturday’s Sigerson Cup final “because I think that’s the rule”. They will face cross-city rivals UCD at Jordanstown (2.30pm).
Having been beaten 2-18 to 0-12 by Saturday’s opponents in November’s Ryan Cup final, Moyna lavished praise on their city rivals, but hinted at a derby edge to proceedings.
”We’re really looking forward to that, I can assure you. They gave us an awful hiding in the league final. They’re a super team, but I think we have a special group of guys," he said.
“We know what we’re up against; they’re one of the best Sigerson teams I’ve seen in 20 years. They tore through us in the league final. I think we have to show up, I think that’s the rule, so we’re gonna show up anyway.”
He also dismissed any notion Jack McCaffrey would miss the game for UCD after going off early in their semi-final win over University Limerick on Friday: “If you believe one-10th of that! Jack McCaffrey will be playing for DCU [today],” he said.
